Tendler backed to start hitting net once again

The East Yorkshire club head to Kirkcaldy looking to put further distance between themselves and Dundee Stars and Edinburgh Capitals, the two teams with whom they are fighting it out for the remaining two play-off spots.

Dundee are now only two points behind seventh-placed Hull, having produced a three-game winning streak to rocket past free-falling Edinburgh, who have won only one in 17 and sit a further two points back with two games in hand.

Hull host Dundee on the final day of the regular season.

Tendler returned to action for Hull 10 days ago after serving what amounted to an eight-game ban after he tested positive for cannabis in a routine drugs test in January. He has yet to find the net in the three games since and last celebrated a goal in an 8-5 defeat at Cardiff Devils on January 28.

But Campbell believes it will not be too long before the 27-year-old finds his scoring touch again.

“It’s only a matter of time before Jereme starts scoring again,” said Campbell. “I think this will be where he gets going again. You can’t keep guys like him quiet for too long.

“There’s a bit more pressure on us given Dundee’s run, but our attitude is good right now and I think we’ll get the right result – our record against Fife is pretty good this year.”

Hull’s first visit to Fife saw them return on the back of a 6-1 triumph in late October but, on a return trip two weeks later they were edged out 6-5 after a shoot-out.

The Scottish club, who have had to deal with the recent sudden death of player-coach Todd Dutiaume’s wife and their unborn twins, can no longer reach the play-offs in their debut Elite League campaign following a 7-1 defeat at Coventry Blaze on Sunday night.

“I think the fact they can’t make the play-offs kind of makes them more dangerous because they really have nothing to lose,” added Campbell.

“We’ve got to make sure we go out hard in the first period and send a strong message that we are serious about getting two points. We’re going up nice and early and we can strengthen our position in seventh a lot if we’re successful.”

[email protected]

Twitter: @philarra